DVD - Blu-Ray recorder with Freeview HD

[Ranger 6]

Am scouting for a Freeview HD recorder and have seen the Panasonic DMR-BWT700EB.

A couple of questions:

Does anyone have any knowledge of this machine?
What's the difference with Freeview HD and Freeview HD+ ?
3D - this has it but I'm completely uninterested in 3D in the home - is this throwing money away on a feature that won't be used?

[bristolracer]

Freeview HD is just that(viewing only)

Freeview HD+ is a recorder

In a similar fashion you can have sky or sky+ the plus denotes the abilty to record.

3D is currently only available via sky and maybe virgin at the moment.
It is not likely to appear on freeview as there is a very limited bandwidth available for HD programmes, what little spare there is will be likely taken up by channel 5 HD

3D may be something you view via dvd but you will need the tv and dvd with 3d capability.

[Road2Ruin]

I dont have this exact model but pretty much simlilar. Mine is the same as yours freeview HD and bluray recorder. It had a hard disk that the freeview HD records to and then you can back it up to DVDs or Blurays or just leave it. It obviously also plays blurays and DVDs. Very nice too.

[Mr Pointy]

What is the EPG like on these? Is it pretty clear & easy to use?

[Ranger 6]

Road2Ruin said:

I dont have this exact model but pretty much simlilar. Mine is the same as yours freeview HD and bluray recorder. It had a hard disk that the freeview HD records to and then you can back it up to DVDs or Blurays or just leave it. It obviously also plays blurays and DVDs. Very nice too.

Which one have you got as there's slightly older versions of the BWT700 available without the 3D

[Road2Ruin]

It's not great on mine but that is because they have about a 3rd of the screen from the left dedicated to adverts! This used to be quite annoying but I have noticed recently that the adverts have stopped showing but the space for them is still there. This leaves only 2/3rds of the screen for the EPG.

[jmorgan]

Been eying up the LG (forget model) and Panasonic (800 or 880??) with twin freeview HD receivers. Not buying yet but the epg does grate on me when it is a load of tosh. Not worried about £d as the missis cannot see it. I do use the recorder hence I am not after Humax. The options to record and watch at the same time are a must on one box now I think.

Edit, both LG and Panasonic recorders.

Edited by jmorgan on Wednesday 21st December 12:49

[eps]

I still reckon Humax are one of the best in this area. They have a Freeview+ HD box, which is a twin tuner model and their EPG is quite good. No Blu Ray recording tho...

[jmorgan]

That is the problem for me. I want one box, simple dump from HD to DVD (or bluray). I do keep some stuff I record. So no good getting a humax and a player, clutters the place up.

[eps]

jmorgan said:

That is the problem for me. I want one box, simple dump from HD to DVD (or bluray). I do keep some stuff I record. So no good getting a humax and a player, clutters the place up.

I know what you mean, although I am going down the Blu Ray and Freeview+ box route. Thankfully Blu Ray players are ultra thin these days

[Ranger 6]

jmorgan said:

That is the problem for me. I want one box, simple dump from HD to DVD (or bluray). I do keep some stuff I record. So no good getting a humax and a player, clutters the place up.

Me too and I've got a Panasonic TV hence the original suggestion.